Margaret Ann Thurmond

Here I am talking about listicles and what a time suck they are, but because I like to contradict myself I’m sharing my summer reading list. I’ve always kept a running list of books I want to read or should read, but this summer it’s going to happen.

I know I’ll get through the list and then some because I’ve decided to have a summer reading competition with my friend. Whoever reads the most number of pages this summer wins a nice bottle of something. Everything ends up being more fun when there’s a little competition and alcohol involved, right?

At the moment he’s reading Infinite Jest, but good luck with that. My strategy is genius: Reading, and then reading more. I look forward to sipping on sweet victory and arguing about which book was better with my friend come August.

1. The Bell Jar, Sylvia Plath There’s nothing like diving into a deep spiral of depression and insanity.

2. Atlas Shrugged, Ayn Rand I figure I should at least say I’ve read one thing from Ayn Rand. This one seems the most interesting and I’ve heard good things from friends.

3. Catcher in the Rye, J.D. Salinger  I’m embarrassed to say I’ve never read this book, so this summer it’s getting checked off my list.

4. The Sun Also Rises, Ernest Hemmingway This has been on my list forever! It’s coming off this summer.

5. Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, Hunter S. Thompson Perfect for those crazy summer nights.

6. The Shining, Stephen King To be honest I’ve already started reading this so I’m not sure if it counts in our competition. I had to put it down because it started creeping me out, and I need to be able to sleep this semester.

7. Slaughterhouse Five, Kurt Vonnegut I’ve never read Kurt Vonnegut. There, I’ve said it.

8. The Color Purple, Alice Walker I’ve seen the movie and never read the book. Womp, womp.

9. Still Alice, Lisa Genova A friend is reading this right now and couldn’t put it down, so it’s on the list.

10. Gone Girl, Gillian Flynn Haven’t seen the movie, haven’t read the book, but everyone is freaking out about it so I’ll give it a shot.

11. Franny and Zooey, J.D. Salinger A recommendation from my competitor. We’ll see how it turns out.

12. On the Road, Jack Kerouac Will I be snapping my fingers and playing the bongos after this? I guess I’ll find out.

13. Delta of Venus, Anais Nin I mentioned I’ve read so much about Anais Nin and read excerpts of her work, but never in its entirety.

14. Catching the Big Fish: Meditation, Consciousness and Creativity, David Lynch

15. Steal Like an Artist, Austin Kleon The two above are to hopefully inspire me to create something. Whatever it is I’m not sure.

16. Fahrenheit 451, Ray Bradbury I was deprived as a high school English student. We were never made to read this book. My brother has read it and my brother is not a reader, so there’s that.

17. House of Leaves, Mark Z. Danielewski I started reading this in a bookstore and couldn’t put it down. Unfortunately when I saw the price tag I had to, but this summer I plan to invest. I want to win this thing.

I recently hid BuzzFeed from my Facebook and I’ve discovered I waste a lot less time on the Internet. Not that there’s anything wrong with sitting at home in your sweats browsing listicles every now and then, but it gets to a point that it becomes totally distracting.

You start to realize that most of it is all the same, and how many times can you really watch someone busting his ass on the pavement or a cat doing something in a box. I used to be an avid newsreader, but slowly found myself returning to listicles to get short pieces of information or entertainment quickly, instead of sitting down and reading an article.

My attention span was dwindling just like everyone else. This roundabout story is to say that hiding BuzzFeed was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. It’s nothing new that the majority of things online or on social media is meant to grasp our attention for a moment, and then we’re on to the next thing. It’s a trend I’ve noticed a lot in advertising. From exploring advertising sites and even award shows, most everything I’ve seen is either a quick visual solve or a gimmick. I honestly can’t think of a modern, award-winning campaign that involves headlines or even a paragraph of copy. Now it’s three images with a short tag, or a line that consists of five words or less.

I’m not sure how to take it. I can’t decide if it’s a good thing that advertising is merely keeping up with peoples’ inability to pay attention for longer than 8 seconds, or that the industry is falling into a trap and feeding into it. I don’t think it’d be so bad to make a person stop and think by showing them something that requires more depth of thought. But then again they may not even look at it in the first place.

It’s kind of a cynical point of view, and may be unrealistic to think that advertising is meant to make people think long and hard about a subject. But with everything I’ve learned in portfolio so far I refuse to believe that advertising is just another gimmick. We’re made to push our ideas beyond our limits and create something more compelling than most professional ads that are out there today.

If you really dig you can find great advertising out there that serves a larger purpose. I think the “Smarter Cities” is a good example. Although it may use a gimmick to get peoples’ attention, those outdoor ads represent a bigger idea. It causes a person to break away from the daily routine and notice something that’s not quite right, while offering a way for them to get involved and solve a problem.

Saving Aslan | Fixodent, Kukident, Blend-a-dent

It’s nice when a company goes with an idea because it’s good, even though it puts their product in the background to a bigger story. Fixodent partnered with Saatchi and Saatchi, Milan, Italy to produce “Saving Aslan,” a short that focused on a 9-year-old lion with dental problems.

Describing it that way sounds weird, and I’ll admit the beginning sets up as a little cheesy, but it becomes a nice story that ties in the product without feeling forced. The short was a much-needed change from the usual medical or dental commercials. While so many others are depicting cartoons scrubbing away tooth decay or cracking jokes about getting old and losing your teeth, Fixodent is saving lions. Everybody loves lions, right?

Maybe I missed it, but I couldn’t help but wonder who the hell the guy was in the film. I don’t think they mentioned why he was involved and what he had to do with the lions. Was he a mysterious lion herder or an actor? Probably an actor, but that’s not the point.

The film portrayed the truth behind losing your teeth: that it’s hard and there are a lot of emotional and physical pains associated with the process. Having a lion as an example was a great way to show this. Even the king of the African plains won’t be himself if he’s experiencing dental pain.

The short continued with some pretty graphic scenes of Aslan’s tooth operation. When you do see what is going on in his mouth, you definitely realize why he’s become more agitated than normal. 

Amazon is desperately trying to invade our homes. First there were delivery drones and now there’s Amazon Dash. Dash was released yesterday and right now is free for Amazon Prime members.

Dash is “the future” of online shopping. Because we needed another reason not to leave the house like normal human beings, Dash let’s you place Wi-Fi connected buttons around your home that are linked to products you love. Push the button and it will immediately order the item from Amazon, granted it’s still available. Not to be a downer but lately every time I’ve looked for something on Amazon it’s been out of stock. How does that even happen? Anyway, daily necessities like toilet paper, coffee (ok, maybe I’d buy in to the coffee part), and even your favorite instant mac and cheese will arrive by the push of a button.

I haven’t done much research into “the Internet of things,” but it looks like this is one of the first steps toward developing a completely connected home, when even our k-cups are available with the touch of our finger. Because it was released so close to April Fools’ Day people didn’t know whether to take it as a joke, a stroke of genius, or just plain creepy.

I think it’s a little weird to have random buttons throughout my house that can automatically order something once it’s pushed. They’re not very attractive to begin with so it could totally screw up my feng shui. But really, as a person who works from home I enjoy the moments when I’m forced to leave the house to buy groceries and other household things.

But then again, maybe it’s completely awesome and I’m being a pessimist. A new father said he planned to put a button next to the diaper changing table, so when they’re about to run out all he has to do is press it. That is totally understandable. I can’t imagine being a baggy-eyed, scared new parent and having to think about one more thing needed around the house. I’d be lucky enough to remember to feed the kid every two hours.

The only thing I kept thinking of were families with children at home tall enough to reach the button. I know my teenage sister would have a damn hay day pressing the button twenty times just to piss people off. Then my mother is stuck with a huge bill from Amazon, and now what? I can see my mom coming home to five large boxes full of Cinnamon Toast Crunch, and my sister arguing that they needed it because the apocalypse was coming. Whatever.

[Photo via] 

Over the years I’ve collected a few little sayings about writing that I’ve decided to include here. I’m not entirely sure of how I came across them or if the person quoted was even the first person to say it. As long as you get the picture of what’s being said and it has the ability to stick with you, I don’t think it entirely matters who said it first.  

1. Have the courage to write badly – Josh Shenk

I’m seriously considering getting this tattooed on my body as a constant reminder. As I mentioned in an earlier post I’m a notorious self-editor. Let me get it all out onto the page before my left hand sabotages my right.

2. The wastebasket is a writer’s best friend – Isaac Bashevis Singer

This is something I’m becoming even more familiar with as I get deeper into my Portfolio class. Let it go man, just let it go.

3. Kill your darlings – Stephen King, On Writing

Take it out and shoot it while it’s still able to walk on its own two legs.

On Writing was surprisingly the first book I’ve ever read from Stephen King. It’s part autobiography and part writing tips, and it’s never boring. I loved the book because it was like getting a back stage pass to how he created some of his best work. 

Fun Fact: His idea for Carrie came to him while he was working as a janitor at a high school and cleaning the girl’s bathroom. He imagined a quiet girl getting bombarded with tampons. And there you have it, what a weirdo.

4. We write to taste life twice, in the moment and in retrospect. – Anais Nin

My girl Anais never fails to encourage writing in the moment without stopping yourself. I spent my entire last post on this so I won’t go into much detail here.

5. Finish the days writing when you still want to continue – Helen Dunmore

I recently read an article from Brain Pickings about Anais Nin. In all honesty I haven’t gotten around to reading her work directly (she is on my summer reading list), but I’ve read so much about her and admire her dedication as a writer. In the article Nin discusses the future of the novel and the importance of writing impulsively to enhance creativity.  

Keeping a diary was the only way Nin learned spontaneity in writing. She was able to capture living moments in one, fluid motion without stopping to self-edit. That was a moment that really stuck with me as a notorious self-editor. Even before I started writing this I sat for ten minutes rewriting and deleting words, paragraphs, and whatever else that kept me from moving forward.

Write, Write, and Repeat 

Having a diary is practice, and it’s important practice. Through constant repetition the writer discovers a naturalness that that they otherwise may not be able to achieve, while learning not to worry about how it turns out the first time. The need to self edit while writing only makes it “wither” into something unfamiliar and sterile. I’m guilty of this. I’m concerned with creating something perfect the first go around that I get lost in the details instead of focusing on stretching my mind into other areas.

Reading Nin’s viewpoints helped me realize that it doesn’t matter that what you write the first time isn’t the best. The first draft is usually going to be crap no matter whom you are. What matters is that you’re able to edit later, instead of trying to rein in whatever is on your mind while putting words on the page.

In her discussion she mentions how well people write when they think no one else will read it. They’re able to capture how they feel in a particular moment without fear of what other people will think about it.

All of this makes me think of the “creative genius” and the myths surrounding that character. Getting better at your craft isn’t entirely about being born with it, it’s sitting down and working at it on a daily basis.

People who focus on the image of the lone writer drinking whiskey and writing by candlelight always forget to mention that the writer was up late working. Yes, the picture is grandiose and beautiful, but look closer and you’ll understand that the reason they were up until dawn was only because they were working hard. They weren’t able to stop writing, not even for sleep.

Creativity in the Unconscious 

Client: IBM Agency: Ogilvy Paris   Source: The One Club, http://bit.ly/1BYaYZy

Most billboards and other forms of outdoor advertising can be ugly and overbearing. Not the case with these installations from Ogilvy Paris for IBM. With all the talk of advertising as just a way to sell, this campaign does exactly what many advertisers fail to do: develop an idea that solves a problem.

IBM’s goal was to promote progress and create “smarter cities” and a better planet. With the level of technology we have today, why is it that you can still never find a seat or a handicap-accessible ramp in the middle of downtown? These are minor problems that are usually bypassed on a normal day, we learn how to deal, but IBM decided to do something about it.

Ogilvy came up with the idea of turning outdoor advertising into something that was both easy to look at and served a purpose. All they did was curve a part of their ad, and immediately a seat was created, a cover from the rain, or a ramp. It’s extremely simple and makes you wonder why no one has thought of that before.

Not only did it subtlety bring your attention to everyday issues that need to be fixed, but the ads blended in well with the surroundings. People hardly noticed it was even an ad, but would always take a second look at what exactly they were sitting on or standing under. Once they figured it out, the ads inspired people to share and talk about these ideas with each other.

The ads rounded out with “sitting on smart ideas for your city?” as a small PSA to let people know they can make a difference and create a more convenient urban environment. The ads pushed people toward people4smartercities.com, a site dedicated to sharing ideas about how to make their city better.

Product: Irish Whiskey Client: Tullamore Dew Agency: Opperman Weiss Source: Agency Website, http://www.oppermanweiss.com/

http://www.oppermanweiss.com/video/tullamore-dew

This spot for Tullamore Dew Irish Whiskey starts on a hill. You immediately know it’s in Ireland because the countryside is green and mossy with a thin layer of fog. Rain starts to pick up as four men walk down a path toward a cemetery with a small chapel.

With the sound of rain in the background, a voice starts to sing “A Parting Glass.” The men end on a stonewall and begin to pour small glasses of Tullamore. There’s never a single mention of the product, only small hints throughout—a road sign that reads “Tullamore,” a flash of the bottle, and that’s it. As they pour the men begin to sing together in a moment of saying goodbye to a friend.

It’s so hauntingly beautiful I want to watch it over and over again. I can only hope that one day I’ll be able to create something as poignant as this. The agency practically lived in Ireland to try and make the campaign as authentic as possible, because if you’re going to go with a campaign named “Irish True,” you better make sure the Irish agree with you.

Even though the agency spent time in Ireland to learn about the country, the ad itself tells an incredible story that spans cultural lines in just a few minutes. It’s not about whiskey or partying (like most boozey ads); Tullamore gets back to the essence of change and what that looks like. The whiskey was there as an accessory to celebrate a moment of strong bonds, loss and changing lives. Don’t try to sell me beaches and naked women, make me remember how important my friends are and how we’ve grown together, and I’m sold.

It’s a feeling everyone can relate to. People move forward, and although things may be lost in the process, you still have that strong bond to return to. It’s both heartbreaking and beautiful and this ad captures it perfectly.

Product: Red Velvet Oreos

Client: Oreos, "Feel the Feelings"

Agency: 360i

Source: Creativity Online: http://bit.ly/1M7LtKO

Instead of indulging in expensive oysters or figs on Valentine's Day, you could pick up a box of Red Velvet Oreo cookies. The "Feel the Feelings" campaign hints on the idea that these delicious little cookies can help you become more in-tune with your surroundings no matter how awkward or uncomfortable. 

360i developed a series of 30-second shorts with characters in typically awkward situations--the middle seat on a plane is probably the worst. The characters try not to make eye contact and fidget uncomfortably, until someone reaches for a Red Velvet Oreo. 

Once the Oreo has been eaten someone makes a single movement as a signal of being more "into the moment." Whether it's lifting up the armrest on a plane or unbuttoning a top button, the characters experience a slight nirvana despite their current situation. 

Although I'm not a huge fan of the phrase, "feel the feelings," it does make a statement that no matter whom you are you can experience a moment of pleasure once you change your perspective. And Red Velvet Oreos give you a small nudge in the right direction. 

I love that these are animated, and don't need much grandiose to still communicate an idea. It's extremely simple and cute, and it puts a spin on the stereotypes surrounding Valentine's Day. No one talks about how Valentine's Day can be awkward, especially if you're flying solo, but everyone can be included in a moment of love when it comes to enjoying an Oreo. 

Bottom Line: Enjoy a little love no matter your situation. 

The Flight: http://youtu.be/5yWiVB5wob4

The Bus: http://youtu.be/O_Nxfi1Bx0g

The Button: http://youtu.be/tBJ4DeTN4fQ

Product: HBOGO

Client: HBO

Agency: SS&K

Source: Agency Website; http://bit.ly/1zdh4Fd

If you’re an18-year-old still living at home with your parents there is nothing, and I mean nothing more awkward than watching a graphic sex scene together over pizza. Well, maybe an incestuous sex scene. It’s this simple truth that makes me more than appreciate this campaign from SS&K to promote HBO GO. 

Netflix campaigns are all about bringing families together and celebrating a common interest with even strangers, but HBO GO runs the complete opposite direction and speaks to any young adult who needs some alone time with their favorite shows. And there’s a strong argument that young adults aren’t alone in this sentiment, because who wants to answer questions or listen to soft conversation while you’re trying to get your fill of Jon Snow? No one.

HBO’s brilliant release of HBO GO has allowed the masses to enjoy its range of popular TV shows in any mobile format, albeit if it didn’t completely stop the illegal downloading. While each show has its merits and drawbacks, there’s no question that every show running is almost X-rated.

SS&K drew on the human truth that it’s uncomfortable being in this setting with your family, and hit home the idea that you can “Stop Awkward Family Viewing” if you just sign up.

Each ad begins relatively the same way, the young adults are watching a hit HBO show alone until a parent decides to drop in at random, or they’re seen together. It’s a great twist on the typical “American family setting” of spending time together around the TV, until you realize what they’re watching. Lo and behold it’s a sex scene or a beheading, and as you watch the look of discomfort glaze over the kids’ eyes the parent(s) always deliver a perfect line. Whether it’s reminiscing about their past sexual habits or trying to teach their kids a lesson about sexual responsibility, it’s a statement no kid wants to hear. Then, “Might be a good time for HBO GO” simply and clearly appears on screen. It wraps up the awkwardness in a nice little bow.

The ads were used as part of HBO’s college campus engagement efforts, which is the perfect setting to reach their young audience. I wouldn’t be surprised if they got an influx of sign ups for the service before summer vacation.

Bottom Line: Watch your favorite graphic shows in peace.

Ad: http://vimeo.com/99040081

Ad: http://vimeo.com/99040080

Product: Schick Razors

Client: Schick, “Free Your Skin”

Agency: Y&R New Zealand 

Source: AdWeek; http://bit.ly/1uREvju

Today a man with a hearty beard is seen as a god among men. A quick Google search of “man beard” will lead to a slew of listicles about why men with beards are better, the power of the beard, or even the latest lumbersexual trend (a favorite of mine).

But dissing the beard in a clever way is precisely why I love this campaign from Y&R. Schick's “Free Your Skin” reminds men that not only can that trendy beard get overgrown and shitty, but if left unkempt it can get so bad that it may harbor critters.

Schick targets exactly the opposite of whom their product is for (i.e. Men with beards or men pining for a beard of their own), because whether or not you own facial hair or know someone with it, you understand the level of maintenance required to keep it “manly.” Schick takes it a step further and encourages men to free themselves from the cumbersome addition completely. 

Ask any man with a beard if he’s ready to give up the goods and most likely he’ll respond with a quick “hell no,” but the visual element in Schick’s campaign brings to light the downsides of carrying around a furry entity on your face. I love it because at first glance the ad looks like any man with a healthy beard, but a second look let’s you in on a better story. It’s a small, but effective “ah hah” moment that translates quickly and leaves you thinking, “Maybe beards aren’t so great.”

Bottom Line: Men, get rid of your beard before it turns feral.

Product: CVV, Emotional Support Hotline 

Client: CVV, Suicide Notes

Agency: Leo Burnett Tailor Made, São Paulo, Brazil

Source: Adweek; http://bit.ly/V5V5zQ

After watching Super Bowl ads that tried and failed (hard) to talk about serious subjects, it reminded me of a campaign from Leo Burnet that advertised the CVV, an emotional support hotline.

The campaign took suicide notes and rearranged them into words that changed the meaning into something uplifting and encouraging. It was striking and uneasy, and made me think, “Can they actually do that?” I’ve heard that some of the best ideas are the ones that challenge taboos, and this one worked. 

The tag, “Inside every suicide is someone who wants to live,” combined with the visual element delivered the message with grace and impact. The image by itself could have been enough to make a statement, but the final words solidified the message even further.

Not only does the campaign reach out to potential victims, but also connects with family members. The note is often the last method of communication from a victim to a family member or friend, and seeing the ad would hit close to home with anyone who’s become remotely close to these issues. It connects to both audiences in a way that doesn’t single anyone out.

I appreciate this campaign because it takes a complex matter and strips away everything into a singular message that resonates with the viewer. It shows the idea that even the darkest situations can be given new life with the right changes in place.

Bottom Line: Taking action to call may help someone discover hope.